February 15, 2008	Friday	Safar 07, 1429

SINGAPORE, Feb 14: AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam has lashed out at the powerbrokers of the English Premier League for putting “money before responsibility” in their plan to play matches overseas.

The Asian Football Confederation chief is strongly opposed to the proposals and said the Premier League and its chief executive Richard Scudamore should have thought more carefully about the idea before it became public.

“We’ll vote strongly against it,” Bin Hammam told the BBC. “The Premier League are putting money before responsibility and dignity. As far as Asia is concerned, I’m not supportive of this initiative.”

The Premier League has suggested adding one more round of fixtures to their schedule, with 10 games to be played at five different venues outside England from 2011.

Asian cities touted as possible venues include Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Singapore.

Hammam said he feared that the popularity of English football was already acting as a barrier to the development of Asia’s own leagues and national sides.

He said there had been no consultation on the plans.

“Friendly matches I’m not against. I welcome that. But I cannot digest at all that a different league will be played in another country than its own,” he said.

“There was no consultation, I just read about it in the newspapers.”

Hammam said that instead of trying to cash in on foreign markets, the Premier League should try to use its high-profile status as a force for good.

“I should say that I respect very much the Premier League, I like to watch the Premier League,” he said.

“But they are interfering with the domestic and local competitions in different national associations if they think this idea can be realised.

“I appreciate, for example, if the Premier League want to play in Darfur, Somalia or East Timor where they can act as peace makers.”—AFP